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The Washington Redskins need to get deeper and younger at wide receiver if they hope to get back into the playoffs in 2014. A dismal 2013 season wasn't made any easier with a limited receiving corps., highlighted by the 34-year-old Santana Moss and the limited abilities of Aldrick Robinson and Josh Morgan.
A guy like Andrew Hawkins could certainly boost that unit, and Washington has already made inquiries into signing the Bengals restricted free agent.
It may have been nothing more than an inquiry though, as the team is reportedly signing Arizona Cardinals free agent WR Andre Roberts once the signing period opens at 4 pm ET:
The Washington Redskins have agreed to a deal with 26-year-old wide receiver Andre Roberts, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, a source tells the Washington Post’s Mike Jones.
Roberts, 5’11" and 195 pounds, is a four-year veteran of the NFL. In 2013, he caught 43 balls for 471 yards and 2 touchdowns.
As for how much he'll be making:
Andre Roberts's deal with Skins will end up 4yrs around $16M, with half of that guaranteed. Very nice haul for him
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 11, 2014
It's also worth noting that former Bengals draft pick Dezmon Briscoe is a Redskins free agent, along with Moss and Morgan.
Perhaps if the Bengals do lose Hawkins to Washington or another team, Briscoe might be someone they look at to bring into training camp. He could probably be the fourth receiver ahead of Ryan Whalen and Cobi Hamilton and possibly Dan Sanzenbacher, who is also a restricted free agent.
With the amount of money the Redskins will be paying Pierre Garcon ($7.2 million in 2014) and now Roberts, it's unlikely they'll have enough cap space to give Hawkins an offer the Bengals can't easily match. The question becomes how much do they value a guy fighting just to be in the top three of the WR rotation.